Tuesday 18 February 2014

New work on the loom

 The Way of the Gull

Last of the summer dyeing project, lichen and elderberry.

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Lines of Work - exhibition pieces




Text from the Miners' Banners, words from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and current newspaper headlines

Lines of work - exploring the territory





Line of work - research




Lines of work - thinking it through



Reflections 1972 Battle of Saltley Gate – 1984 Battle of Orgreave
1972 Saltley, flying pickets sleeping on bedsit floors, students on the picket line shoulder to shoulder with the miners, amidst the three day week and power cuts.  At the Co-op Dairy (now closed)  we work seven days, cows don’t stop making milk.  No power cuts but no heating and working by torchlight when necessary it’s February and cold.
1978 Grimethorpe colliery.  Helmet lamp and tally stepping into the cage with much trepidation, plummeted into the bowels of the earth and a mile walk to the coal face.  Eyes on the ground eyes on the roof, thankful for the helmet.  Hands and knees across the coal face, I’m only 5’-2’’,the next slice is cut, the props removed and the roof dropped.  Scary.  Back on the surface there’s nowhere for women to wash.
1979 – Tony Benn speaks at the Miners Gala in Lock Park – absolutely no recall of what he said, but I do retain the images of the procession with the Miners Banners.

1984 – Barnsley.  The world has changed since Saltley; new legislation about picketing the Government’s prepared.  I’m working at the County Council (that’s gone too).  County Hall, Soup Kitchen on the Members Car Park, proud men digging for fuel on the muck stacks, the miners stand together.  Elsewhere opinions are divided, the Government’s not going to move.  County Engineers daily counting the cost of damage.  No hope no prospects Margaret Thatcher will not suffer the same fate as Ted Heath.



Tuesday 11 February 2014

Lines of Work



here's where I started

Coming next - Lines of Work



As this work is for an exhibition in Barnsley I want to make a connection.  Barnsley was founded on glass making, linen weaving, engineering and textiles as well as the mining industry.  The miners founded their own welfare clubs and looked after one another.

Way of the Gull - day nine



back to Douglas

Way of the Gull - day eight



Looking back

Way of the Gull - day eight

Way of the Gull - day eight



almost there





Way of the Gull - day seven


The famous Laxey Wheel

Way of the Gull day six


Way of the Gull - day six, sea dune heath

Sea Kale
Yellow horned poppy
Sea Holly
Sea Spurge

Way of the Gull - day five



Common Storks-bill?
Harebell, herald of autumn
Birds-foot trefoil
Eye-bright
Seals

Way of the Gull day five, walking the pebble beach




Way of the Gull - day four, along the cliff tops and over the moors



Way of the Gull - day three


Common Brown?
and 
Laughton Sheep

Way of the Gull - day two



Sea Mayweed
Common Blue Butterfly
Sea Beet
Barley
Heron

Way of the Gull - day one


here too

Way of the Gull - day one


Six spotted burnet moth, apparently common but new to me
and the lovely wild carrot


Way of the Gull August 2013



from Douglas clockwise 


Raad ny Foillan - Way of the Gull a coastal walk around the Isle of Man 2013


sea views wild flowers and butterflies

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Hello I'm back

Here's what I've been doing over the past year.  Walking the Way of the Gull and making work for an exhibition at Barnsley.